Refuse compactor

ABSTRACT

A refuse compactor in which a hydraulic cylinder, pivot mounted at the rear, compacts refuse fed to a compacting space in front of the cylinder, from a chute. A flap mounted within the chute serves to force the refuse into the compacting space from the chute. A fully encased ejection piston operated by a hydraulic cylinder ejects the compacted mass from the compacting space. Guide tracks prevent wobbling of the compacting piston when encountering large-sized obstructions within the refuse.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Howard Price Kings Point, N.Y.;Seymour Wallick, Clifton, NJ. [21] Appl. No. 829,306 (221 Filed June 2,1969 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [73] Assignee international Patents 8:Development Corp.

Kings Point, N.Y.

(54] REFUSE COMPACTOR 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 100/139, 100/142,100/215, 100/218, 100/229, 110/245,100/251, 100/269, 100/295 [51] Int. Cl 83% 7/00 (50] FieldofSearch100/218, 142, 232, 240, 245. 249, 295, 142, 229, 215;141/31;53/124,137.138,139,251. 269

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,987 5/1912 Kardos100/232 X 2,695,110 11/1954 Feidert 100/246 UX 2,955,528 10/1960 Weiss100/142 2,907,530 10/1959 Pyles 100/218 UX 3,126,816 3/1964 Thompson100/218 X 3,467,001 9/1969 Balbi 100/232 X 3,229,618 1/1966 O'Connor100/229 UX OTHER REFERENCES Research-Cottrell, Inc. Pamphlet, 5 pagesDec. 13, 1968 (Copy in class 100 sub, 229 A) Primary Examiner-Billy .1.Wilhite Attorney-Sparrow and Sparrow REFUSE COMPACTOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION In refuse compactors known in the art, the compacting pistonwhich is driven against the refuse to compress the latter into a reducedvolume, is operated by a hydraulic cylinder which is stationary andmounted in the front and in proximity of the piston head when retracted.With such mounting of the hydraulic cylinder for the compacting piston,the latter would be subjected to bending when encountering an objectwithin the refuse, which is difficult to break and compact. Thus, when ametal bar, for example, would be included within the refuse, the pistonin the conventional apparatus, heretofore, would buckle and thereby bendas a result of the resistance of fered by the metal bar. As a result ofsuch bending of the piston, the latter would tendto jam within thecylinder, and thereby give rise to mechanical operating difficulties.

Conventional refuse compactors, furthermore, incur wobbling of thecompacting piston when encountering objects within the refuse, which aredifficult to compact or reduce in volume. Wobbling of the piston undersuchconditions, serves to damage the interior walls of the compactingdevice, resulting in eventual jamming of the piston along its path ofmotion.

The ejection piston used to eject the refuse from the ap paratus afterhaving been compacted, moreover, has been difficult to maintain cleanand free from clinging refuse in the conventional design, heretofore.The refuse compactors, as known in the art, also do not have provisionfor forcing the refuse from the chute into the compacting space directlyin front of the piston.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A refuse compactor in which the hydrauliccylinder for compacting the refuse is pivot-mounted at its rear, toprevent bending and jamming of the piston when encounteringsubstantially incompressible objects within the refuse. A flap or blademounted within the chute feeding refuse into a com' pacting space infront of the compacting piston, is hydraulically operated to force therefuse into the compacting space. After the refuse has been compacted,it is ejected from the apparatus through a fully encased piston which isself-cleaning. A reinforced baseplate is hydraulically removed frombeneath the compacted mass prior to ejection from the apparatus by theejecting cylinder. The baseplate is also moved through a hydrauliccylinder mounted at its rear through a pivot. The compacting piston isprevented from wobbling and cutting into the interior walls lining itspath of motion, through guide tracks extending along the path of thecompacting piston.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refuse compactorin which the compacting piston is free of bending and jamming during itscycle of operation.

Another object of the present invention resides in providing an ejectingpiston in the refuse compactor, of the aforementioned character, whichis self-cleaning.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide areinforced base member beneath the ejecting piston and the BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the following description and in theclaims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, butsuch names are intended to be as generic in their application to similarparts as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote likeparts in the several figures of the drawing, in-which FIG. 1 is asectional elevational view of the refuse compactor, in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the refuse Compactor in FIG. I with thecontrolling elements of the compactor removed;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken along line 3-'3in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. Sis a view taken along line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a casing member used for the reciprocatingpiston of the refuse compactor,-of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 1, and showsthe layout of the controlling elements for the refuse compactor,

FIG. 8 is a plan view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, thehousing 10 of the refuse compactor constrains the movement of thecompacting piston 12. The latter is reeiprocated horizontally through ahydraulic cylinder 14. The piston rod 16 connects the piston head 12 tobore 24a of the pin-retaining portion 24. The pin 26 secures 1 pivotablythe fork projections attached to theend of the hydraulic cylinder 14.These fork portions 28 may be con structed integrally with the end cap30 of the cylinder 14. As a result of this rear mounted pivot device forthe hydraulic cylinder 14, the piston head 12 may move transversely tothe longitudinal axis of motion ofthc piston rod 16.

The piston 12 has a curve-shaped face 12a through which the refuse iscompacted into a cylindrically shaped structure.

The refuse is introduced into the compactor through a chute 32 whichcommunicates with the compacting space ,34 directly in front of thepiston head 12. A photoelectric device 35 mounted within the walls ofthe chute 32, emits signals indicating that refuse has passed throughthe chute and intothe compacting space 34.

To aid the transfer of the refuse into the space 34 in front of thepiston head 12, a feed blade or flap 36 is mounted within the chute 32.The feed blade 36 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 38 which is turnedthrough the action of a hydraulic actuator-40. The latter rotates theblade through an angle of when actuated, and thereby serves to force therefuse from the chute, and directly in front of the piston head 12, tofacilitate the compacting processes. The feed blade 36 may consist of aplurality of bars to form a fork-shapedstructurewhich presses upon therefuse in the chute. For purposes of reinforcing such fork-shapedprongs, angles 36a may be provided with a barshaped member 36bstraddling across them. At the same time, the feed blade 36 may be inthe form of a simple blade-shaped member such as a plate.

After the refuse has been compacted into a cylindrical mass, the latteris located at the end of the compacting space 34, and directly beneaththe ejection piston head 42. During the compacting process, the pistonhead 42 is retracted, so that the space 34 is entirely clear of theejecting piston.

To eject a compacted mass from the refuse compactor of the presentinvention, a bottom sliding door 44 is moved from underneath thecompacted mass. This door 44 maintains an opening beneath the ejectingpiston head 42 closed during the compacting process, and therebysupports the refuse while being compacted. After the compacting processhas been concluded, the sliding door 44 is withdrawn from the opening,so

that the compacted refuse may be ejected from the space 34 throughdownward travel of the ejecting piston head 42.

The'ejecting piston head 42 is attached to a piston rod 44 which extendsinto a hydraulic cylinder 46. A casing 48 fully encloses the hydraulicoperating mechanism, as well as the piston head 42. Through the casingdesign 48, of the present invention, the actuating mechanism for theejecting piston is maintained clean. Furthermore, through the wipingaction of the casing 48 in its vertical travel, the ejecting piston isselfcleaning, since any refuse adhering to the piston will drop off asthe latter is retracted.

The bottom door 44 is pivotably mounted to the piston rod 50 of ahydraulic cylinder 52 which is also mounted at its rear through a pivotjoint 54. This pivotjoint includes a supporting member 56 which retainsa pin 58 within bores of fork-shaped portions 60 extending from the rearof the cylinder 52. The purpose of this rear mounting of the cylinder 52is to prevent bending and jamming of the rod 50 within the cylinder, inthe event that the sliding door 44 encounters a substantiallyincompressible object while closing.

For the purpose of further reinforcing the sliding door 44, achannel'shaped member 62 is secured to the bottom surface of the slidingdoor. This channel-shaped member 62 prevents buckling of the slidingdoor when encountering high resistance while the door is being closed.Through a bracket bearing member 64 mounted on the plate 44, the latteris pivotably joined to the piston rod 50 by means of the pin 66 insertedthrough bores within the piston head 68 and the bore 64a in the bearingbracket 64.

As a result of the rear-mounting of the cylinders 52 and 14, smoothtranslational motion is realized of the reciprocating piston heads 68and 12, respectively. Thus, any resistance encountered by these pistonsduring their cycles of motion, will not cause the piston rods to bendand thereby incur jamming within the cylinders. Any deflections whichmight be forcibly imposed upon the pistons due to resistance withintheir'paths of motion, are sustained through the pivot actions at therear of the cylinders. Guides 70, furthermore, provide additionalstability of the piston head 12 during its reciprocating motion, andprevent wobbling of this piston head when encountering high resistanceduring the compacting process.

To maintain the compacting pistons and hydraulic actuating mechanismfree from clinging refuse, a casing 72 encloses surroundingly themovable portions of the compacting members. The casing has an opening720 at its bottom, which serves as an access opening through which it ispossible to gain access to the pivot portions 160 and 18.

Mounted on top of the housing 10, and on the supporting base a, are thehydraulic pump 74 and motor 76 for circu lating the hydraulic fluidthrough the actuating cylinders of the refuse compactor, of the presentinvention. The motor 76 drives the pump 74 which in turn circulatesfluid to and from the hydraulic reservoir 78. Acontrol unit 80 appliesthe necessary electric signals to the hydraulic valves used to controlthe fluid flow to the cylinders. Through limit switch bars 82,electrical switches are operated when the actuating pistons are atpredetermined positions, and the desired sequence of opera tion of thecylinders, in the compactor, is thereby maintained. Thus, control overthe compacting piston 12 is obtained, for example, through the limitswitch bar 82 connected to the piston through a slot in the casing 72.This limit switch bar 82 then actuates limit switches when the piston 12is, for exampic, at its terminal position in its path of motion.

In a preferred construction of the piston 12, a curved frontal plate 12ais secured to the piston head portion 12b, as shown principle of theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refuse compactor including a housing, a compaction zone withinsaid housing, reciprocal compacting means within said housing incommunication with said compaction zone and discharge means connected tosaid compaction zone within said housing to discharge the compactedrefuse therefrom, the combination comprising; said reciprocal compactingmeans, a horizontally disposed pivotally mounted hydraulic compactionram having a piston, rod, and cylinder portion, said cylinder portionpivotally mounted at one end to said housing, said piston rodreciprocally carried by said cylinder for moving said piston betweenextended compacting and retracted positions, said piston pivotallyattached to said rod and including a substantially tubular protectivecasing portion open at one end thereof and closed at the opposite end todefine an ar-- cuate compacting face, means defining an opening in thewall of said protective casing adjacent the pivotal attachment betweensaid piston and said rod for access thereto, feeding means carried bysaid housing including a feed chute, feed opening in said housingconnected to said chute, a combination hydraulic feed actuator andprecompactor means mounted on said chute to feed and precompact saidrefuse from said chute ,into said housing for further compactiontherein, means moving said piston between retracted and compactingpositions within said housing, ejecting means carried by said housing incommunication with said compaction zone including pressure-operatedcylinder, piston rod, and ejection piston means selectively operablebetween extended ejecting and retracted positions, said ejection pistonincluding a substantially tubular protective body open at one endthereof and closed at the opposite end to define an ejection face, meansdefining a discharge opening in said housing beneath said compactionzone and said ejecting means, door means complementary to said dischargeopening, said door movable between open and closed positions toselectively retain or discharge a compacted quantity of refuse fromwithin said compaction zone, and control means to selectively andsequentially actuate said feed means, said compaction means, said doormeans and said ejecting means. l

2. The refuse compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said mountingmeans for pivotably mounting said reciprocable compacting means includesa bracket member secured to said housing and having a bored bearingportion; a bored bearing portion secured to said reciprocable compactingmeans and cooperating with said bored portion of said bracket means;

and pin means passing through said bored portions of said bracket meansand said reciprocable compacting means.

3. The refuse compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said reciprocablecompacting means includes guide means for guiding said piston along saidpath of motion, said piston being in contact with said refuse duringcompacting thereof.

4. The refuse compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said door meanscomprises a plate member; and a channel member secured to said platemember for reinforcing said plate member.

1. In a refuse compactor including a housing, a compaction zone withinsaid housing, reciprocal compacting means within said housing incommunication with said compaction zone and discharge means connected tosaid compaction zone within said housing to discharge the compactedrefuse therefrom, the combination comprising; said reciprocal compactingmeans, a horizontally disposed pivotally mounted hydraulic compactionram having a piston, rod, and cylinder portion, said cylinder portionpivotally mounted at one end to said housing, said piston rodreciprocally carried by said cylinder for moving said piston betweenextended compacting and retracted positions, said piston pivotallyattached to said rod and including a substantially tubular protectivecasing portion open at one end thereof and closed at the opposite end todefine an arcuate compacting face, means defining an opening in the wallof said protective casing adjacent the pivotal attachment between saidpiston and said rod for access thereto, feeding means carried by saidhousing including a feed chute, feed opening in said housing connectedto said chute, a combination hydraulic feed actuator and precompactormeans mounted on said chute to feed and precompact said refuse from saidchute into said housing for further compaction therein, means movingsaid piston between retracted and compacting positions within saidhousing, ejecting means carried by said housing in communication withsaid compaction zone including pressure-operated cylinder, piston rod,and ejection piston means selectively operable between extended ejectingand retracted positions, said ejection piston including a substantiallytubular protective body open at one end thereof and closed at theopposite end to define an ejection face, means defining a dischargeopening in said housing beneath said compaction zone and said ejectingmeans, door means complementary to said discharge opening, said doormovable between open and closed positions to selectively retain ordischarge a compacted quantity of refuse from within said compactionzone, and control means to selectively and sequentially actuate saidfeed means, said compaction means, said door means and said ejectingmeans.
 2. The refuse compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein saidmounting means for pivotably mounting said reciprocable compacting meansincludes a bracket member secured to said housing and having a boredbearing portion; a bored bearing portion secured to said reciprocablecompacting means and cooperating with said bored portion of said bracketmeans; and pin means passing through said bored portions of said bracketmeans and said reciprocable compacting means.
 3. The refuse compactor asdefined in claim 1 wherein said reciprocable compacting means includesguide means for guiding said piston along said path of motion, saidpiston being in contact with said refuse during compacting thereof. 4.The refuse compactor as defined in claim 1 wherein said door meanscomprises a plate member; and a channel member secured to said platemember for reinforcing said plate member.